Stratham candidates sound off at Thursday night forum

STRATHAM — Although many races for town and school boards are uncontested, there was plenty to debate at Thursday night’s candidates forum.

Liz Markhlevskaya

STRATHAM — Although many races for town and school boards are uncontested, there was plenty to debate at Thursday night’s candidates forum.

The forum was hosted by the Wiggin Memorial Library on Feb. 24 to give residents a closer look at the candidates.

Stratham School Board

While two Stratham School Board seats are up for re-election, Robert O’Sullivan is the only one running. The second seat can be filled by a write-in candidate with the most votes on March 8.

O’Sullivan, a former School Board member, said he chose to run because of the lack of candidates.

“It’s sad that people are not willing to step up and run for these positions,” said O’Sullivan, who said 80 percent of the town’s property taxes go to school spending.

According to O’Sullivan, while he had always been supportive of Stratham offering a stellar education and employee experienced staff, he is worried about the growing compensation Stratham teachers are receiving in their contracts.

“I am concerned we are at that tipping point with spending,” said O’Sullivan.

The Stratham Teachers Association negotiated a three-year contract with the town’s School Board that proposes a 7 percent compounded increase in Stratham Memorial School teachers’ salaries. Stratham has the highest paid teachers in the state of New Hampshire with an average salary of $70,920.

Cooperative School Board

Mark Portu, who is running for the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board, said with a tight budget, difficult decisions will need to be made by School Board members in coming years, especially when it comes to salaries and benefits for employees.

Last March, voters turned down a Cooperative School District teachers contract.

The proposed contract for the 2011-12 school year calls for a 5.9 percent compounded increase in salaries over a three-year period.

“I think difficult conversations are coming,” said Portu. “In fact that is the reason I stepped forward.”

Portu, who has lived in Stratham for the past decade, said as an owner of a software company, he can contribute a business perspective to the School Board.

He said working with a complicated budget and adapting quickly to the economy are significant parts of his work.

Cooperative School District’s Budget Advisory Committee

Elyse Gallo Seeley, who is running for another term after four years on the Budget Advisory Committee, said she agrees the school budget should be held in “good financial management.”

Seeley said she, along with a majority of budget committee members, voted not to recommend the proposed teachers contracts for the Cooperative School District.

Board of Selectmen

Running for another term on the Board of Selectmen is Chairman David Canada, who has been a Stratham resident for more than 30 years.

Canada said renovating the Wiggin Memorial Library within the budget, as well as hiring highly qualified town employees, have been some achievements by the selectmen during his previous term.

In coming years, Canada sees the water, sewer, and storm water management infrastructure in the commercial district (Portsmouth Avenue/Route 108) as a high priority in Stratham.

“The days of individual wells and individual septic systems are over,” said Canada, who said more business activity would take some of the tax burden off the residents.

Library Board of Trustees

Candidate Bruce Cotter, who has been Chairman of the Library Trustees the past year and a member of the trustees for three years, commended the recently completed library renovations.

The renovations brought a community meeting room, a youth program room and a teen collection room to name a few.

“It’s beautiful, it’s airy, it’s open,” said Cotter, saying that during his term trustees had contributed $65,000 ($5,000 more than originally promised) toward renovations.

Town Clerk/Tax Collector

Also running for re-election is Joyce Charbonneau, who has been Stratham town clerk and tax collector since 2008. She said she would like to see her department continue to implement new technology to make services such as registration and taxes more convenient for residents.

Cemetery Trustees

After five years serving on the Cemetery Trustees, Robert Cushman is running for re-election, and looks forward to the committee working to expand cemetery land in the future.

Town candidates not in attendance were incumbents Maria Emanuel, running for Trustee of the Trust Funds, and Kevin Peck, running for town treasurer.

Members of the Exeter Region Cooperative School Board: David Miller, Kate Segal, Elizabeth Faria, and Joni Reynolds, are also running for re-election this year.

In addition to Seeley, Janice Miller and Roy E. Morrisette are running for the Cooperative School District Budget Advisory Committee.

Stratham town and school district elections are Tuesday, March 8 at the Stratham Municipal Center, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Stratham School District Meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 7 at Stratham Memorial School. Town Meeting is Friday, March 11 at 7 p.m. at SMS.

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